Bay Biosciences provides high-quality, biopsy tissue samples. FFPE tissue blocks with matching fresh, frozen sera (serum), plasma, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) bio-fluids from patients diagnosed with Colorectal cancer (CRC).
The sera (serum), plasma and PBMC biofluid specimens are processed from colorectal cancer (CRC) patient’s peripheral whole-blood using customized collection and processing protocols.
Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Overview
Colorectal cancer, also known as bowel cancer, colon cancer, or rectal cancer, is any cancer that affects the colon and rectum.
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS) colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer related deaths in men and in women in the United States.
Every year, over one million new cases of colorectal cancer are diagnosed worldwide. Around 150,000 new cases are detected each year in the United States.
Colon cancer and cancer of the rectum can begin as a small polyp, detectable through regular cancer screening, such as colonoscopy.
Most colorectal cancers start as a growth on the inner lining of the colon or rectum. These growths are called polyps.
Some types of polyps can change into cancer over time (usually many years), but not all polyps become cancer. The chance of a polyp turning into cancer depends on the type of polyp it is.
If cancer forms in a polyp, it can grow into the wall of the colon or rectum over time. The wall of the colon and rectum is made up of many layers. Colorectal cancer starts in the innermost layer (the mucosa) and can grow outward through some or all of the other layers.
When cancer cells are in the wall, they can then grow into blood vessels or lymph vessels (tiny channels that carry away waste and fluid). From there, they can travel to nearby lymph nodes or to distant parts of the body.
The stage (extent of spread) of a colorectal cancer depends on how deeply it grows into the wall and if it has spread outside the colon or rectum.
Colorectal cancer symptoms include a change in bowel habits or bleeding, but often there are no symptoms. With early detection, surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy can be effective treatment.
Doctors perform rectal exam to detect colorectal cancer. Patients are ordered diagnostics tests and may also have a sigmoidoscopy or a colonoscopy tests in which your doctor puts a long, flexible tube into your rectum to check the insides of your intestines for any cancers or growths that could turn into cancer.
Signs and Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer (CRC)
Colorectal cancer may not cause symptoms in the early stages. If a doctor finds signs of anemia during a routine medical check, they may suggest screening for colorectal cancer. Following are some of the common signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer:
- Anemia (because of bleeding in the intestines)
- Abdominal Pain
- Blood in stools, looks dark brown or black
- Belly discomfort or bloating
- Changes in bowel habits
- Cramping in your rectum
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Feeling full, even when a long time has passed since a meal
- Feeling that the bowel does not empty properly (tenesmus)
- Fatigue and tiredness
- Rectal bleeding
- Unexplained Weight Loss
Causes of Colorectal Cancer (CRC)
Exact causes of what causes most colorectal cancers are unknown.
In general, colon cancer begins when healthy cells in the colon develop changes (mutations) in their DNA. A cell’s DNA contains a set of instructions that tell a cell what to do.
Healthy cells grow and divide in an orderly way to keep your body functioning normally. But when a cell’s DNA is damaged and becomes cancerous, cells continue to divide, even when new cells aren’t needed. As the cells accumulate, they form a tumor.
With time, the cancer cells can grow to invade and destroy normal tissue nearby. And cancerous cells can travel to other parts of the body to form deposits there (metastasis).
Cancer develops when a normal cell divides and multiples uncontrollably. Normally cells are regulated in their growth, maturity, division and death by the DNA present in their nucleus. With damage to the DNA the cells may become rogue and multiply uncontrollably to give rise to tumors.
Most cases of colorectal cancer first develop inside clumps of cells on the inner lining of the bowel. These are called polyps. Polyps may be multiple in number and do not necessarily indicate bowel cancer. However, patients with polyps are at a greater risk of bowel cancer.
Types of Colorectal Cancer (CRC)
Most of the colorectal cancers are adenocarcinomas. These cancers start in cells that make mucus to lubricate the inside of the colon and rectum. Some sub-types of adenocarcinoma, such as signet ring and mucinous, may have a worse prognosis than other subtypes of adenocarcinoma.
Following are some of the other, much less common types of tumors can also start in the colon and rectum:
- Carcinoid Tumors: These start from special hormone-making cells in the intestine.
- Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs): These start from special cells in the wall of the colon called the interstitial cells of Cajal. Some are benign (not cancer). These tumors can be found anywhere in the digestive tract, but are not common in the colon.
- Lymphomas: These are cancers of immune system cells. They mostly start in lymph nodes, but they can also start in the colon, rectum, or other organs. Information on lymphomas of the digestive system can be found in Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.
- Sarcomas: These can start in blood vessels, muscle layers, or other connective tissues in the wall of the colon and rectum. Sarcomas of the colon or rectum are rare.
Risk of Colorectal Cancer (CRC)
Following factors may increase the risk of developing colon cancer:
- Older Age: Colon cancer can be diagnosed at any age, but a majority of people with colon cancer are older than 50. The rates of colon cancer in people younger than 50 have been increasing, but doctors aren’t sure why.
- African-American race: African-Americans have a greater risk of developing colon cancer than do patients of other races.
- A personal history of colorectal cancer or polyps: If someone already had colon cancer or noncancerous colon polyps, there is a greater risk of developing colon cancer in the future.
- Inflammatory intestinal conditions: Chronic inflammatory diseases of the colon, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, can increase the risk of developing colon cancer.
- Inherited syndromes that increase colon cancer risk: Some gene mutations passed through generations of your family can increase your risk of colon cancer significantly. Only a small percentage of colon cancers are linked to inherited genes. The most common inherited syndromes that increase colon cancer risk are familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and Lynch syndrome, which is also known as hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC).
- Family history of colon cancer: Patients are more likely to develop colon cancer if they have a blood relative who has had this disease. If more than one family member has colon cancer or rectal cancer, the risk is even greater.
- Low-fiber, high-fat diet: Colon cancer and rectal cancer may be associated with a typical Western diet, which is low in fiber and high in fat and calories. Research in this area has had mixed results. Some studies have found an increased risk of colon cancer in patients who eat diets high in red meat, processed meat and other processed foods.
- A sedentary lifestyle: People who are inactive are more likely to develop colon cancer. Getting regular physical activity may reduce the risk of colon cancer.
- Diabetes: Patients with diabetes or insulin resistance have an increased risk of colon cancer.
- Obesity: Patients who are obese have an increased risk of colon cancer and an increased risk of dying of colon cancer when compared with people considered normal weight.
- Smoking: Patients who smoke may have an increased risk of colon cancer.
- Alcohol: Excessive use of alcohol increases the risk of colon cancer.
- Radiation therapy for cancer: Radiation therapy directed at the abdomen to treat previous cancers increases the risk of colon cancer.
Prevention of Colorectal Cancer
Screening of Colon Cancer
Doctors recommend that people with an average risk of colon cancer consider colon cancer screening between the age of 45 to 50. But people with an increased risk, such as those with a family history of colon cancer, should consider screening earlier.
There are several screening options available, each with its own benefits and drawbacks.
Lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of colon cancer
Following are some of the steps you can take to reduce the risk of colon cancer by making changes in your everyday life:
- Eat a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains: Fruits, vegetables and whole grains contain vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants, which may play a role in cancer prevention. Choose a variety of fruits and vegetables so that you get an array of vitamins and nutrients.
- Stop smoking: Quitting smoking will lower the risk of developing colorectal cancer.
- Exercise most days of the week: Try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise on most days. If you’ve been inactive, start slowly and build up gradually to 30 minutes.
- Maintaining a healthy weight: If you are at a healthy weight, work to maintain your weight by combining a healthy diet with daily exercise. If you need to lose weight, ask your doctor about healthy ways to achieve your goal. Aim to lose weight slowly by increasing the amount of exercise you get and reducing the number of calories you eat.
- Quit drinking alcohol or drink in moderation: If you choose to drink alcohol, limit the amount of alcohol you drink to no more than one drink a day for women and two for men.
Diagnosis of Colorectal Cancer (CRC)
Screening can detect polyps before they become cancerous. It can also detect colon cancer in the early stages, when it is easier to treat. In 80 percent of cases, a doctor diagnoses colorectal cancer after performing a colonoscopy because the person has symptoms.
Routine screening detects 11% of cases, and 7% of people with colorectal cancer receive a diagnosis after seeking emergency care for sudden abdominal symptoms.
Following are the most common diagnostics and screening procedures for colorectal cancer:
Colonoscopy
Colonoscopy is the gold standard diagnostic tool for colorectal cancer. It has high level of accuracy and can show precisely where a tumor is.
The procedure involves using a long, thin, flexible tool called a colonoscope that contains a light and a camera. It allows the doctor to see the whole colon and rectum. They may also remove polyps or take tissue for a biopsy during the procedure.
A colonoscopy is painless, but some patients take a mild sedative to help them stay calm. Beforehand, a person may need to drink a laxative fluid to clean out their colon. Bleeding and perforation of the colon wall are rare but possible complications.
Blood Stool Test
This checks for blood in a stool sample. This issue can result from many conditions, it does not mean that cancer is present. A patient can take their stool sample for testing at home or at work.
Stool Immunochemistry
Also known as a fecal immunochemistry test, this checks for hidden blood in the lower colon. It involves using a small kit to collect a stool sample at home.
Stool DNA Test
This test checks for several DNA markers that colon cancers or precancerous polyps shed into stool. A patient collects an entire bowel movement at home for testing in a lab. If the result is positive, a colonoscopy is necessary. It is worth keeping in mind that this test cannot detect every DNA marker of cancer.
Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
This procedure involves using a sigmoidoscope, a flexible, thin, lighted tube, to examine the rectum and sigmoid colon, the last part of the colon before the rectum.
The test takes a few minutes and is not painful, but it might be uncomfortable. There is a small risk of perforating the colon’s wall.
Barium Enema X-ray
Barium is a contrast dye that can reveal any unusual features on an X-ray. A healthcare professional introduces it into the bowel as an enema. A doctor may recommend a colonoscopy for closer investigation following a barium enema X-ray.
CT Colonography
This produces images of the colon. It is less invasive than a colonoscopy, but if it reveals a mass, the patient will need a colonoscopy.
Imaging Scans
Ultrasound, CT, or MRI scans can show if cancer has spread to another part of the body.
Bay Biosciences is a global leader in providing researchers with high quality, clinical grade, fully characterized human tissue samples, bio-specimens and human bio-fluid collections.
Samples available are cancer (tumor) tissue, cancer serum, cancer plasma cancer PBMC and human tissue samples from most other therapeutic areas and diseases.
Bay Biosciences maintains and manages its own bio-repository, human tissue bank (biobank) consisting of thousands of diseased samples (specimens) and from normal healthy donors available in all formats and types.
Our biobank procures and stores fully consented, deidentified and institutional review boards (IRB) approved human tissue samples and matched controls.
All our human tissue collections, human specimens and human bio-fluids are provided with detailed samples associated patient’s clinical data.
This critical patient’s clinical data includes information relating to their past and current disease, treatment history, lifestyle choices, biomarkers and genetic information.
Patient’s data is extremely valuable for researchers and is used to help identify new effective treatments (drug discovery & development) in oncology, other therapeutic areas and diseases.
Bay Biosciences banks wide variety of human tissue samples and biological samples including cryogenically preserved at – 80°C.
Including fresh frozen tissue samples, tumor tissue samples, FFPE’s, tissue slides, with matching human bio-fluids, whole blood and blood derived products such as serum, plasma and PBMC’s.
Bay Biosciences is a global leader in collecting and providing human tissue samples according to the researchers specified requirements and customized, tailor-made collection protocols.
Please contact us anytime to discuss your special research projects and customized human tissue sample requirements.
Bay Biosciences provides human tissue samples (human specimens) from diseased and normal healthy donors which includes:
- Peripheral whole-blood,
- Amniotic fluid
- Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL)
- Sputum
- Pleural effusion
- Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
- Serum (sera)
- Plasma
- Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC’s)
- Saliva
- Buffy coat
- Urine
- Stool samples
- Aqueous humor
- Vitreous humor
- Kidney stones (renal calculi)
- Other bodily fluids from most diseases including cancer.
We can also procure most human bio-specimens and can-do special collections and requests of human samples that are difficult to find. All our human tissue samples are procured through IRB approved clinical protocols and procedures.
In addition to the standard processing protocols Bay Biosciences can also provide human plasma, serum, PBMC bio-fluid samples using custom processing protocols, you can buy donor specific sample collections in higher volumes and specified sample aliquots from us.
Bay Biosciences also provides human samples from normal healthy donors, volunteers, for controls and clinical research, contact us Now.
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